The American Idol judge wants to shine a spotlight on preventing type 2 diabetes and improving heart health.

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A 20-year veteran of the music industry, Randy Jackson is a successful producer who has worked with such megastars as Mariah Carey, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and a host of other A-list talents. He also has several Grammy Awards under his belt. He is best known to international audiences, however, for his role as a judge on American Idol, the popular reality singing competition on the FOX network.

Despite all this professional success, the spotlight almost dimmed on Jackson when he became severely overweight and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999. He's since dropped the pounds, and his health is under control - and now, he's become a man on a mission to get the rest of us to improve how we eat and how much we exercise.

Jackson wants us to know that of the nearly 21 million Americans with type 2 diabetes, nearly two-thirds of them will die from a heart attack or stroke. "What's … amazing is that more people probably know who Kelly Clarkson is [the winner of American Idol's first season] than realize that diabetes is connected to cardiovascular disease and stroke," he writes in his new book, Body With Soul: Slash Sugar, Cut Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on Your Best Health Ever (Hudson Street Press/Penguin). The book, a unique memoir that features a "new-you" wellness program, is a big part of his plan to help others and raise awareness of type 2 diabetes. He also has taken on a new role as spokesman for the American Heart Association's "The Heart of Diabetes" campaign.

In the middle of preparations for the ninth season on the show, Jackson sat down for a chat with Everyday Health about his new book, his personal struggle with type 2 diabetes, and the physical and mental changes he's had to make for the sake of his health.

Everyday Health: Finding out that you had type 2 diabetes came as a shock to you. What happened?

Randy Jackson: One-third of diabetics don't even know they have the disease, and I was one of them. I was feeling really, really ill. I thought I had a cold. I was sweaty, dizzy, thirsty, and I just wasn't feeling like myself. Two weeks went by like this. Finally, I called my doctor, and he said I should go to the ER. Once there, I found out that my blood sugar was over 500 [mg/dL]. Normal blood sugar readings are in the 100s, so mine was five times that! It was a huge shock to me. I thought to myself, this kind of thing only happens to other people - not me, dude. But I was hugely overweight - about 350 pounds. Both my parents had had the disease, and I wasn't managing my diet at all.

Everyday Health:
How did your diagnosis affect you?

Randy Jackson: I was depressed. All the bad habits I had caught up with me. Not to be too dramatic, but I realized it could kill me and that, now, I was at greater risk for blindness, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and amputation. They're all linked. My doctor said to me: "You're in a battle now. Do whatever it takes."

Everyday Health:
What did your doctor recommend?

Randy Jackson: First, he told me I was hugely overweight. I went to a nutritionist, and I lost 30 to 35 pounds in the first six months. But it wasn't happening fast enough for me, so I started thinking about gastric bypass surgery because my mother-in-law had had it. A year later, I did it. It's dangerous - one in 200 people die - but it jump-started things for me.

Everyday Health:
In addition to the surgery, you've changed much of your lifestyle, especially how you eat. You wrote in "Body with Soul," though, that you don't believe in diets. What do you mean by that, being as this book seems to be like a diet?

Randy Jackson: I don't like the word diet. What I mean by that word is a program where you slash calories drastically, you drop a lot of pounds, say to yourself, "Damn, I look fine," and go back to eating the way you did before. Yes, some diets work for some people. And I've done them all. But what I'm talking about is changing how you look at food and your relationship to food.

When I was growing up, it was "eat when you're sad, eat when you're happy, eat together, eat alone, eat anytime." I think you have to change your whole mentality about how you eat. It's about moderating your calories, resizing your portions, and making healthier choices. Moderation is really the key. Too much of anything isn't good!

Everyday Health:
Another dirty word for you was exercise.

Randy Jackson: When you're a kid, you don't think playing is exercise because it's fun. I grew up in Louisiana, and my mom would have to come and get me after we were playing outside. But someone says, "Let's go to the gym." Oh, really? Are we sure? That's no fun. Now, I think of exercise as having a good time. Walk. I love walking. Just get moving. Walk one hour a day, seven days a week - and if you can control what you eat - you'll be fine, dude.

Everyday Health:
Both of your parents had type 2 diabetes, and now you do. Are you worried about your kids?

Randy Jackson: I've got two daughters, 18 and 13, and a son who is 11. We have a very healthy lifestyle going on at home now. We don't have the bad kind of stuff in the house. And we are believers in the "morsel diet": Pare down your portion sizes and eat at regular times. We don't deprive ourselves of anything, but we control it pretty consistently. No one is perfect. And certainly not me.

But I am concerned for kids, which is why my wife [Erika] and I set up the Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation. This is for cases [when] surgery may not be an option. The world has really changed, and obesity is a real threat to our kids.

Everyday Health:
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, Randy. How are you going to deal with the smorgasbords of food facing you?

Randy Jackson: I'm now so over the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. But when faced with a lot of food, I always try to remember the "morsel" idea, and that small helpings are not going to kill you. Don't eat until you're stuffed! And remember: That milkshake? You're going to be wearing it!

Everyday Health:
So, we can't end without a little "Idol" dish. What gives?

Randy Jackson: It's going to be another great season starting in January. You know we added a fourth judge, record producer Kara DioGuardi. We've now got two boys and two girls. I just feel so blessed to be able to find some amazing gems out there.

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